Police Officer Salary

Beaumont vs Riverside: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Beaumont, CA and Riverside, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Beaumont, CA
$107,429
$51.64/hr
Riverside, CA
$104,987
$50.48/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBeaumont, CARiverside, CA
Median Salary$107,429$104,987
Hourly Rate$51.64$50.48
Entry Level (P10)$68,052$72,966
25th Percentile$83,912$78,635
75th Percentile$137,509$125,445
Top Earner (P90)$161,186$150,931
Total Employed96,010
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Beaumont ($107,429) and Riverside ($104,987) police officer salaries.BeaumontRiversideMedian Salary$107,429$104,987Entry Level (P10)$68,052$72,966Top Earner (P90)$161,186$150,931US Median $78,542

Verdict

Beaumont, CA offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Riverside.

The salary gap between Beaumont and Riverside is $2,442 (2.33%). Beaumont's median is +36.78% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Beaumont spans $93,134,Riverside spans $77,965. Beaumont has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Beaumont
P10 (Entry)$68,052
P25$83,912
Median$107,429
P75$137,509
P90 (Top)$161,186
Riverside
P10 (Entry)$72,966
P25$78,635
Median$104,987
P75$125,445
P90 (Top)$150,931

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Riverside ($98,633 effective) pays 3.84% more than Beaumont ($94,986 effective).

Beaumont
Nominal: $107,429
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $94,986
Riverside
Nominal: $104,987
CoL Index: 106.442
Adjusted: $98,633

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Beaumont if…

  • Higher median salary ($107,429/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($161,186)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Riverside if…

  • Larger job market (6,010 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $98,633)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Beaumont grew -12.2% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 0.2% growth in Riverside over the same period.

Beaumont, CA

+-12.2%

$118,697 (2024) → $104,239 (2025)

Riverside, CA

+0.2%

$101,700 (2019) → $101,870 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Beaumont or Riverside?

Beaumont has a higher median police officer salary at $107,429/year, compared to Riverside at $104,987/year — a difference of $2,442 (2.33%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Beaumont and Riverside?

Beaumont police officers earn $51.64/hr while Riverside hygienists earn $50.48/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Beaumont to Riverside as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Beaumont and Riverside. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Beaumont = $94,986, Riverside = $98,633), job availability (9 vs 6,010 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Beaumont vs Riverside?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $68,052 in Beaumont and $72,966 in Riverside. The Riverside area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JL

Written by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in law enforcement. They specialize in community policing strategies. Jordan works with a municipal police department.

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.06% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice, a licensed police officer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov